lecoultre



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. LECOULTRE.

STOP .WATGH.

Patented Jan. 4, 1887.

WITNESSES.-

A rmwm N. PETERS. Photo-Ulhogm'plmr, WnshYnglun. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. LEGOULTRE.

STOP WATCH. No. 355,403. Patented Janr i, 1887 WITNESSES. c%NTO/? 6%M 6am N. FEI'ERS, PhotuLilhngmpher, Wnhmglun, n. c

The operation is as follows: During the time that the split-seconds mechanism is in operation one end of the lever B is in one of the notches of the wheel 8, as shown in Fig. 1, and the wings of the wheel (Z can engage with the teeth of the toothed wheel 0 the ends of the other levers, T and U, resting on the ends of the teeth of wheel 8, their opposite ends of teeth being in such a position that they cannot engage with the wings of the wheel (I. For each oscillation of the balance wheel the toothed wheel c is moved the distance of one tooth, and thereby the wheel (I is released once for each oscillation of the balance-wheel and can make a one-fourth turn, said wheel (I being revolved from the arbor G by means of the cogwheel C, previously described. The spring N has a tendency to uncoil, and thus its free end is pressed against the side of the recess in the wheel 0, thus producing sufiieient frictional contact to revolve the wheel 0 the moment that the wheel (Z is released. The tension in the spiral spring N presses the outer end of the springagainst the side of the recess in the wheel 0, but said spring also has a tendency to revolve the wheel (1. Said spring is being continually wound from the arbor C and is at all timeskept ata high tension. The spring Nis dependent entirely upon the mainspring, and serves merely to transmit the motion, even when the wheel (I is released. The gearing is so proportioned that the wheel drevolves one-fourth for each quartersceond, and makes one revolution per second, so that the split-seconds hand on the arbor D indicates quarter-seconds. When it is desired to stop the split-seconds mechanism, the lever L is pushed inward in the direction of the arrow a, whereby the wheel 8 is turned such a distance that the end of thelever R is on the end of one of the teeth of the wheel 8, whereby that end of the lever B on the rim of the wheel 8 is moved in the direction of the arrow b and the other end in the direction of the arrow 1)", whereby the winged wheel (Z is disengaged from the toothed wheel a. At the same time one end of the lever U drops into one of the notches of the wheel 8, whereby the opposite end of the lever is moved in the direction of the arrow 1), and said end projects into the cirele described by the ends of the wings of the wheel (I, thus causing one of the wings to strike against the end of said lever U, whereby the said wheel is stopped and cannot be revolved any longer. Only the wheel d, the pinion I, the cog-wheel I, the pinion H, the cog-wheel II, and the cog-wheel G are stopped, but not the arbor C on which said wheel Ois mounted, for the reason that said cog-wheel G is loosely mounted on its arbor, and is only driven by frictionthat is, when no resistance is offered to the several gear-wheels of the train for operatingthesplit-seconds mechanism. Thetension of the spring N produces sufficient frietion to cause said wheel to be revolved from the arbor G to which one end of the spring N is fastened.

- When the wheel d is stopped, as stated above, the resistance offered is greater than the friction produced by the spring N, and the free end of said spring slides on the sides of the recess N in the wheel C. This does not interfere with the works of the watch.

\Vhen it is desired to throw the split-seconds hand back to zerothat is, back to the point from which it is to start-the lever L is again pushed in the direction of the arrow a, whereby the wheel 8 is again rotated a short distance. The said wheel 8 acts on the lever U, thereby moving that end adjacent to the wheel (I in the inverse direction of the arrow b At the same time one of the teeth of the wheel 8 acts on one end ofthelever T, whereby the on posite end is moved in the direction of the arrow 1), so thatsaid end projects into the circle described bythe ends ofthe wings of the wheel d. The end of the lever T is in a plane above or below that in which the wheel (6 revolves, and the projection (Z on the wheel (I, which projects from the plane in which the wheel revolves, strikes against the end of the lever T and stops the wheel (I, so that the said wheel (I always stops in such a position that the splitseeonds hand connected with said wheel is at zero of the dial over which said splitseconds hand revolves. I have provided the projection d on only one of the wings of the said wheel (1 \Vhenever the split-seconds mechanism has been stopped and the hand is to be thrown back to zero, the wheel (2 is released and permitted to revolve until its projection strikes the lever T. In some casesforinstance, when the wheel (1 has been stopped at the qnarter-second-said wheel only makes a quarter of a revolution in its return movement, and when, for instance, the split-seconds hand is stopped at the threequarter secend, said wheel d makes threequarters of a revolution during its return movement.

When it is desired to start the splitseconds mechanism, the lever L is again pushed in the direction of the arrow a, whereby one end of the lever It is permitted to move into one of the notches of the wheel 3, and the other end of said lever is moved in the inverse direction of the arrow b", and the wings of the wheel (Z are engaged by the teeth of the wheel 0.

A stop-watch of any approved construction is provided in the watch, and is started and checked from the wheel 8- in the usual manner.

In my improved watch the ordinary vworks, the stopwatch, and the split-seconds mechanism are all operated from the same spring, and no special driving-spring need be provided for the split-seconds mechanism. By providing the above-described mechanism I am enabled to drive the split-seconds mechanism from the mainspring at any time, and when the splitseeonds mechanism is checked at any time it does not interfere with the remaining parts of the watch.

The stopwatch and splitseconds meehanism are operated at the same time, as the wheels 8 and s? are on the same shaft and are ICO turned at the same time. Whenever the stopwatch is stopped, the split-seconds mechanism is stopped at the same time. The stop-watch and split-seconds mechanism are also started and brought back to zero at the same time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a watch, the combination, with a shaft or arbor, of two toothed wheels and a ratchetwheel mounted on the same, a split-secondshand mechanism, and levers controlling the same, which levers are acted upon by one of the toothed wheels, substantially as shown and described.

' 2. In a watch, the combination, with the mainspring, of the arbor G", driven by gearing from said mainspring, the wheel 0'', mounted loosely on said arbor and having a recess in one face, a spring secured on the arbor within the recess and having one of its ends resting against the side of the recess, a train of gearing operated by said loose cog-wheel, and split seconds" mechanism operated by the train of gearing, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a watch, the combination, with the mainspring and usual watch mechanism, of the pivoted lever B, the winged wheel d, pivoted in one end of the same, gearing for revolving said wheel (I from the mainspring of the watch, and a ratchet-wheel, c", engaging with the winged wheel (1, and alsoopcrated from the mainspring of the watch, substantially as shown and described.

4. A watch constructed with a inainspring and usual watch mechanism, a pivoted lever,

It, toothed wheel d, pivoted in one end of the same, the levers 'l and U, and the toothed wheel 6, all combined substantially as shown and described.

5. A watch constructed with the usual mainspring and watch mechanism, the toothed wheel 8, the lever It, the winged wheel d, pivoted in one end of the lever B, said winged wheel having aprojection projecting from the plane in which the wheel revolves, and the stopping-levers T and U, all combined substantially as shown and described.

6. In a watch, the combination, with the mainspring and usual watch mechanism, of the pivoted lever It, having the notch Q, the stoplug Q, projecting into said notch, the winged wheel d, pivoted in the end of the lever it, gearing for operating the lever d from the mainspring, and the stop-leverU, all combined substantially as shown and described.

7. In a watch, the combination, with the mainspring and usual watch mechanism, of

the lever B, the toothed wheel d, pivoted in one end of the same, a train of gearing for operating said toothed wheel from the mainspring, the spring M, acting on thelever R, and the toothed wheel 8, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name'in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMI LEGOULTRE.

Witnesses:

JEAN ALP. Sennrrenunnr, LYIJL'L T; Animus. 

